Materials: by Roy E. Gane

Do the phrases “old covenant” and “new covenant” indicate two different dispensations or modes of salvation in the Bible? Is there a focus on love and grace in the old covenant as there is in the new covenant? This article wrestles with these issues while arguing for greater continuity between the two covenants than is usually acknowledged.

Old Testament laws can be divided into moral, civil, ceremonial, and health laws. Of these the moral and health laws continue to be valid under the new covenant. Thus rather than doing away with seventh-day Sabbath, the “new covenant” restores the heart of true Sabbath observance.

This study shows that the laws against homosexual activity in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 appear in contexts that exclusively consist of moral laws that guide God’s people in morally pure and holy living, which indicates that these laws are permanent.